OME Springs with stock shocks?

[spitfire355]

Hi all,

I have done a search but can't find an exact answer to my questions.

Anyway I have a 2003 Liberty that's currently completely stock and I would like to lift it. I originally ordered a Daystar 2.5" kit however after reading up on the forum they aren't very highly regarded and I'm worried about a rough ride and premature wear.

So, it looks like I'll be sending the lift kit back and instead buying some OME springs. This is obviously going to cost quite a lot more ($600+ in springs as I'm in Canada). I'm on a bit of a budget and can't justify another $5-600 for new shocks right now.

So, my questions is, would I be ok to use the stock shocks with the OME springs? I'm looking at getting the 927s to give me around 2" of lift so I can run 245/70/17s.

I understand that my current shocks may be worn out but they feel pretty good at the minute and I'm more worried about UCA/LBJ damage usually associated with spacer lifts.

I'm also doing all the work myself so I can always add shocks further down the line. Has anyone used standard spring compressors with the OME springs?

Thanks ms in advance for all your help!

 

[tommudd]

Hi all,

I have done a search but can't find an exact answer to my questions.

Anyway I have a 2003 Liberty that's currently completely stock and I would like to lift it. I originally ordered a Daystar 2.5" kit however after reading up on the forum they aren't very highly regarded and I'm worried about a rough ride and premature wear.

So, it looks like I'll be sending the lift kit back and instead buying some OME springs. This is obviously going to cost quite a lot more ($600+ in springs as I'm in Canada). I'm on a bit of a budget and can't justify another $5-600 for new shocks right now.

So, my questions is, would I be ok to use the stock shocks with the OME springs? I'm looking at getting the 927s to give me around 2" of lift so I can run 245/70/17s.
927 front and 948 rear springs give you 2.5 inches of lift over new stock height
17's ???? But 245-70-17s are 30.5 inches tall so will work, just lose some power and mileage

I understand that my current shocks may be worn out but they feel pretty good at the minute and I'm more worried about UCA/LBJ damage usually associated with spacer lifts.
No upgrade your shocks, plus you need longer ones for the rear anyways, never mix used shocks with new springs, it will wear your springs out quicker

I'm also doing all the work myself so I can always add shocks further down the line. Has anyone used standard spring compressors with the OME springs? Standard spring compressors WILL NOT work, first will not fit in the coils and second have you ever tried to compress a 400 lb spring??

Thanks ms in advance for all your help!

That will get you started
save up and do it right from the get go, you'll be happy you did in the long run

 

[spitfire355]

Thanks for getting back to me, some useful stuff there.

As for the tire sizes, my liberty came with 17" wheels (it's a limited) and I've managed to get a killer deal on some 245/70/17 tires which I believe are the same as the 245/75/16s which seems to be the preferred tire size post-lift.

I've done a bit more research and priced up a set of 4 springs at $600, then a full set of shocks for about the same, bringing an OME/Bilstein lift to around $1200.

I've also found the BDS lift kit on sale for $580 which comes with rear shocks. Now I know the shocks aren't up to much, but I've seen the springs are pretty good, if not as good as the OME lift. What this allows me to do is just buy the front shocks now (so I'm at $880) and I can delay the new rear shocks until I can afford them (I figure the BDS ones should be good for at least 6 months).

 

[tommudd]

Thanks for getting back to me, some useful stuff there.

As for the tire sizes, my liberty came with 17" wheels (it's a limited) and I've managed to get a killer deal on some 245/70/17 tires which I believe are the same as the 245/75/16s which seems to be the preferred tire size post-lift.

I've done a bit more research and priced up a set of 4 springs at $600, then a full set of shocks for about the same, bringing an OME/Bilstein lift to around $1200.

I've also found the BDS lift kit on sale for $580 which comes with rear shocks. Now I know the shocks aren't up to much, but I've seen the springs are pretty good, if not as good as the OME lift. What this allows me to do is just buy the front shocks now (so I'm at $880) and I can delay the new rear shocks until I can afford them (I figure the BDS ones should be good for at least 6 months).

So BDS is cheaper up there?
No OME dealers up where you live?
BDS rear shocks will last for a while but....

 

[duderz7]

Don't rush it, get your springs now and use them to decorate your house while you save for shocks, then do the job all at once and only once.

 

[tommudd]

I've always said , well stole it from a buddy ( old guy about 65 when I was 20 back in 1974 ) that not replacing everything was like buying new shoes without new socks that didn't have holes in them. May look good but not feel good at all.
Instant gratification in this case having a lifted vehicle that " looks" the part is better than a lifted vehicle that looks the part and rides well also is what many go for. Don't be that person, do it right

 

[JasonJ]

I've said it about 3 times in the past few weeks, but it took me 4 years to get around to doing my OME lift PROPERLY.

You don't want to either do it yourself, or pay someone to disassemble your stock fronts, reassemble with new springs on old worn out shocks, run around like that for half a year or a year or so (if less, then why not just wait to begin with!?), then pull them out again, disassemble them, then reassemble with the new shocks- by now the old worn shocks will have accelerated wear to the springs...

Just don't.. You won't like it, it'll still ride fairly rough. It won't sit properly, and could cost you a lot of cash in the end that you otherwise don't need to spend.

You can't/shouldn't use manual clamp style compressors on OME springs. I did.. I bought specific ones and had to finish compressing them with my electric impact... it was scary at times, and was NOT a good idea. Don't pull a Jason and cut corners.

See if the local shop will do you a deal on assembling new fronts if you bring it back for an alignment. Also, I recommend buying new top mounts and spring seats so that they can be assembled ahead of time. If it costs you $70 per side (say an hour labor), each time they need to be pulled, pulled apart, reassembled, you're spending almost $300 on just that by the time you have the proper parts.

If you can't justify another $500-$600 on new shocks right now, then you can't justify doing the lift at all.

Also, my '03 Limited has 16" wheels, factory. So 17's might be a CA only option for the 03 Limited trim.

 

[turblediesel]

Years ago I had a spring compresser slip loose and smack my thumb hard enough to fly my arm behind my back. Lucky the bloody thumb was still there and unbroken. That was just a little spring from a little foreign car.